Annotated Bibliography
ENG 102
11 April 2016
Annotated Bibliography for “The Dangers of Polystyrene”
Addicted to Plastic: The Rise and Demise of a Modern Miracle. Dir. Ian Connacher. Documentary. Bullfrog Films, 2008. Film.
[This documentary film examines plastic and its negative effect on various ecosystems. Marine life specifically suffers from plastic pollution. In fact, the ratio of plastic material to marine organisms in the ocean is currently ten to one. This debris is later ingested by marine animals, who will choke or die as a result. Despite the generality of the film, I will use some of the presented information. First, I will tie in the various statistics about plastic; such as the low percentages of plastic being recycled worldwide, before concentrating my argument on Styrofoam. This will convey a serious tone for the paper and will emphasize the magnitude of the problem. Next, I will elaborate on landfills and the impact that plastics have on landfills—they do not compress or degrade. This section of the paper will help my readers to realize that we need to lessen our dependency on landfills. Finally, I will discuss the methods of recycling that were shown in the film to persuade my audience that Styrofoam, a plastic itself, can be successfully recycled.]
Boena, Graca, and Magdalena Bedowska, Patrycja Wrzesie, and Aleksandra Zgrundo. “Styrofoam Debris as a Potential Carrier of Mercury Within Ecosystems.” Environmental Science and Pollution Research International 21.3 (2014): 2263-2271. ProQuest. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This scholarly journal article presents the findings of a recent study on Styrofoam debris that was conducted in the Southern Baltic Sea drainage basin. The journal article briefly describes Styrofoam’s influence in the food chain, human heath, and the environment (2263). The study shows that after coming into contact with water, Styrofoam debris bonds with mercury deposits, thus making the material toxic to the human brain and nervous system (2263). Boena et al. also compare the Styrofoam debris measurements in the Baltic Sea basin with those on the shores of the Gulf of Gdansk and Goldap Lake (2268). The authors opine that the experiment exemplifies the importance of the worldwide waste problem. When discussing the dangers of Styrofoam in respect to human health and the food chain, the mercury evidence will be greatly beneficial. However, this information is irrelevant to some extent because the experiment was conducted in an aquatic setting whereas my paper concentrates on the Southern Nevada desert.]
Daneman, Matthew. “More Cities Ban Polystyrene Foam, Citing Environment.” USA Today. USA Today, 21 December 2013. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This newspaper article is interesting and informative about New York City’s decision to ban Styrofoam. The law was implemented in July of 2015 (par. 3). Daneman deems Styrofoam to have “numerous problems” (par. 8) and supports the decision with evidence of other popular fast food chains who have abandoned the material. He acknowledges that banning Styrofoam is a major change for these companies, but is necessary for the future of our environment. Due to the impressive statistics that Daneman presents, I am likely to use this article to increase my credibility.]
Egendorf, Laura K., ed. The Environment. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005. Print.
[This anthology is part of the Opposing Viewpoints Series. Sam Martin, a writer for Mother Earth News, has an intriguing article in the anthology in which he argues that recycling can and does reduce pollution. With supporting research, Martin declares that America is “the most wasteful country on the planet” (101). He then designates recycling as the best option to reducing waste (103). Martin finishes his article with statistics about the wastefulness of the American lifestyle. One statistic in particular states that American citizens accumulate nearly four million tons of junk mail every year but do not open 44% of this mail (Martin 106). I can definitely use these statistics either in the introduction or conclusion of my paper to alarm my audience; I will pair these statistics with appropriate commentary to persuade the audience that recycling Styrofoam is a crucial change.]
“The Environmental Impacts of Styrofoam.” Green Events Commission. Washington University in St. Louis, 2013. PDF File. 24 March 2016.
[This electronic source is a one-page document written by the Green Events Commission, an eco-friendly student organization at the Washington University in St. Louis. This document condenses the harmful aspects of Styrofoam. To start, the material is ranked fifth most hazardous form of waste in the United States (par. 1). In addition, the production of Styrofoam creates greenhouse gases and is the second most laborious material to produce (par. 2). These statistics make me even more passionate about recycling Styrofoam. Because I am limited to six sources, it would be unwise for me to choose this source in knowing the document is only a page long.]
Haerens, Margaret, ed. Garbage and Recycling. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Print.
[This anthology scrutinizes the environmental problems in the United States. Each chapter considers a group of issues with opposing articles for each issue. The landfill and recycling articles are significant to my persuasive essay; thus, I will use these articles as needed. For example, to attest to the dangerousness of landfills, the Environment News Service tells about a family from Dickson, Tennessee, whose members were diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses after being exposed to trichloroethylene, a chemical released by the Dickson County Landfill (30). The Environment News Service expands on the dramatic incident in stating that one member in particular, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, has undergone six surgeries and chemotherapy since the diagnosis (32). In another article published in 2007, The Economist analyzes recycling. The news publication goes into depth about the history, process, technology, future, and supposed dangers of recycling. I will be using this article as I transition my persuasive essay to the resolution of Styrofoam waste—that is, recycling. I will include evidence from this article about the benefits of recycling, like the reduction of greenhouse gases, to persuade my audience that recycling is the best solution for Styrofoam waste.]
Hanaor, Cigalle and Tom Howells. Recycle: The Essential Guide. London: Black Dog Publishing Limited, 2010. Print.
[This book is factual and easy to understand. Hanaor and Howells start by quoting, “Over the past 50 years humankind has altered ecosystems more extensively than at any comparable period of time in history” (12). The remaining content offers information about specific environmental struggles, including New York City’s lack of space for garbage storage (166). To resolve this problem, the New York State Department of Correctional Services began a composting program in a local inmate facility during the late 1990’s (166). The endeavor trained inmates and decreased maintenance bills (166-167). Aspiring environmentalists can enjoy this source due to its great information. Nonetheless, I am not going to use this source in my paper. There are only four pages on United States related examples. Besides, none of the information references Styrofoam. The book is interesting but would be somewhat extraneous to my topic.]
Heyl, Dean, and Sam Higginbotham. “Misunderstood Polystyrene: The Facts.” Franchising World 45.11 (2013): 14. ProQuest. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This scholarly journal article extrapolates the usefulness and irreplaceability of Styrofoam. In summary, Heyl and Higginbotham highlight the positive qualities of the material: it is cheap, clean, and easy to maneuver (par. 5). Moreover, they refute Styrofoam recycling and claim this is not the answer to the environmental litter problem. Rather, the answer to the problem is aggressively enforcing already existing laws against littering (par. 6). As expected, the authors finish the article by opposing all rumored Styrofoam bans. Their reason against these bans include increased unemployment due to local businesses not having the funds to replace Styrofoam, and in turn, going bankrupt (par. 7). It is clear that this article is in support of Styrofoam, which conflicts with my thesis that Styrofoam is a harmful product. I could use the counterarguments that are mentioned, like the cost of Styrofoam, and would rebut this with other sources.]
Mancini, Candice, ed. Garbage and Recycling. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print.
[This anthology focuses on plastic pollution in the ocean. One article on foodservice waste management stresses that foodservice waste is one of the largest oceanic pollutants (Shakman 145). Written by Andrew Shakman, the article attempts to persuade foodservice providers to not only care about the waste problem, but to adjust their disposal of kitchen waste, plate waste, and packaging waste (145-146). Shakman later identifies that providers can eliminate essentially all waste by “food recovery, composting or recycling” (148). He also summarizes new technology that can help these processes. Some of this machinery includes aerobic digesters, which transform food waste into drinkable water, and waste dehydrators, which reduce the weight and volume of waste (Shakman 152). Shakman’s article is stimulating, however it is unrelated to my argument. The major correlation between the article and my paper is the topic of packaging waste, which typically includes Styrofoam containers, plastic silverware, and napkins. Because it is only tangentially related to my argument, I will not use this article.]
Manrich, Sati and Amelia S. Santos. Plastic Recycling. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2009. Print.
[This book is recognizes plastic as a problem and underlines various issues related to plastic. Manrich and Santos underline that the amount of plastic being recycled has only increased due to the increased production of the material (5). The authors then supply various recycling techniques and emphasize recycling as the chief solution to the waste problem. The authors also acknowledge problems with plastic recycling. One predominant issue is the manufacturing of plastic products; they are typically made from various component plastics which hinders their recyclability (7). Manrich and Santos propose that plastic products should be redesigned; they write, “priority should be given to reducing the number and variety of components in one product” (7). Manrich and Santos also incorporate data tables and charts to help the reader understand the importance of plastic recycling. The book focuses mainly on the recycling process, which may be helpful in the resolution process at the end of my paper.]
“Polystyrene Fast Facts.” The Way to Go. Harvard University, 2008. PDF File. 24 March 2016.
[This electronic source, published online by Harvard University, relates directly to my topic. The first page quotes, “Polystyrene is made from petroleum, a non-sustainable, non-renewable, heavily polluting and fast-disappearing commodity.” The document presents numerous other facts that reveal the detrimental effects of Styrofoam. I will use these facts throughout my paper to convince and remind readers that Styrofoam is a significant problem. For example, I can show how the lightweight aspect of Styrofoam contributes to worldwide litter and has a negative effect on wildlife (3). Similarly, this document will be helpful in my analysis about the connection between Styrofoam and human health risks. The material consists of several carcinogens, like styrene and benzene, which are released when Styrofoam is heated or touched (4). It is clear that this excellent document will be helpful throughout my paper. I will use this primarily in the beginning of my essay to grasp the audience’s attention.]
Republic Services. 2014 Summary Annual Report. Phoenix: Republic Services, 2015. PDF File.
[This electronic source is very relevant to my argument. The document contains data tables regarding annual revenue of the Republic Services Company. I can use these concrete numbers to argue that the company is financially able to fund the Styrofoam recycling project in Southern Nevada. In 2014, the company’s total profits were $8,788.3 million (76). During this year, the company maintained 324 landfills which accumulated to $1,841.8 million in fees (98). I can use this data to reason that recycling Styrofoam will maximize the volume of trash able to fit in landfills. This will in turn decrease the demand and expense of additional landfills. This is only one of the various data comparisons that I will present. This document is essential to my argument.]
Rhodes, Ryan E., Mark R. Beauchamp, Mark Conner, Gert-Jan deBruijn, Amy Latimer-Cheung, and Navin Kaushal. “Are Mere Instructions Enough? Evaluation of Four Types of Messaging on Community Depot Recycling.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling 90 (2014): 1-8. ScienceDirect. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This scholarly journal article offers insight on the most effective ways of getting consumers to recycle. With research, the authors assert that many people share positive opinions about recycling, but fail to commit to the process (2). Hence, the best approach to persuading individuals to recycle is to provide a step by step plan of execution (2). Rhodes et al. discuss methods of instruction and differentiate which tactic is most successful by completing an eight-week study on four communal groups. Each group was instructed differently; access to transportation and the distance to the recycling depot were additional variables (6). The end of the report states that “basic instructional pamphlets” were most influential on the selected individuals (7). I am likely to use this source in the resolution part of my persuasive essay. My primary focus is to persuade the management department at Republic Services to recycle Styrofoam. After this, I have to execute the change. I can do this by sending instructional pamphlets to Henderson citizens, and will support my idea with data from this source.]
Rogers, Heather. Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage. New York: The New Press, 2005. Print.
[This book was written by environmentalist Heather Rogers. She incorporates numerous historical incidents from across the world to infer that trash quantities have steadily increased. On page 30, Rogers reasons that this change is due to manufacturing goods being “expensive or difficult to obtain” in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Thus, people consumed less material than present day standards. Her claims become applicable to my persuasive essay when she talks about plastics and explains why they are popular. She clarifies that plastics have enough flexibility to replace most natural materials (188); in addition, plastics are manmade and typically inexpensive (119). The author decides that awareness of the problem is the first step to bettering our environment. Although the book is fascinating, Rogers’ claims are too broad—she attempts to resolve essentially all environmental issues. Plus, the book does not include sufficient information for my stance on Styrofoam recycling, so I will not use this source.]
Royte, Elizabeth. Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2005. Print.
[This book was written by environmentalist and author, Elizabeth Royte. As an environmentalist, she goes on a quest to uncover what happens to her trash past the garbage pickup. She begins her research by canoeing through Gowanus Canal, and then develops the daily habit of selecting garbage items for her compost heap (18). After this, she literally follows her trash around (64). During her journey, Royte meets many individuals who work exclusively with trash. Most of them do not want to speak to Royte because of her demanding environmentalist questions. Royte tells about her own experiences throughout the narrative while still including factual information. This source contains a lot of information, but much of it seems unrelated to Styrofoam and Styrofoam recycling in Southern Nevada. It is unlikely that I will use this source as I am unsure of how or where I would use it.]
Rudolph, Barbara, Mike Cannell, and Jerome Cramer. “Second Life for Styrofoam: A Growing Number of Companies Are Protecting the Environment—and Profits—by Recycling Plastics.” TIME. Time Inc., 22 May 1989. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This magazine article was written in 1989; since then, recycling has evolved. When the article was published, only 1% of plastics were recycled in comparison to the 25% of aluminum products being recycled (par. 2). To increase the plastic recycling percentage, America committed to recycling forty million pounds of plastic every year beginning in 1990 (par. 2). Unfortunately, the TIME article accentuates that “the greatest obstacle to plastic recycling is old-fashioned laziness and indifference” (par. 2). In the final section of the article, the authors recognize the costliness of the plastic waste issue. They conclude that the long term benefit of a healthier country will compensate for initial costs (par. 3). I will probably not use this source; the information is no longer current—the statistics are over 25 years old. I might use this reference for historical comparison to strengthen my argument, though, to talk about how apathy towards recycling has not changed.]
Seipel, Tracy. “San Jose City Council to Consider Banning Styrofoam within City Facilities, Programs.” San Jose Mercury News. Digital First Media, 24 April 2012. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This newspaper article illuminates the eco-friendly efforts of the San Jose, California, population. After banning plastic bags, the City Council is considering banning Styrofoam usage within city buildings and at city events (par. 1). City officials intend for this change to be positive in both the economic and environmental aspects (par. 2). The article underlines disagreements between the California Restaurant Association, Styrofoam producers, and the city board. The San Jose mayor, Chuck Reed, urges consumers to view this potential ban as an experiment (par. 3). Other councilmen offer data regarding the benefits that other cities received in banning Styrofoam (par. 17). Altogether, the newspaper article is informative of San Jose’s controversy around Styrofoam. I am not attempting to persuade my audience to ban Styrofoam, I am trying to persuade them to recycle the material. I feel recycling is a more realistic and respectful approach to the issue; thus, it would be ineffective for me to use this article.]
Sims, Judith. “Polystyrene.” Environmental Encyclopedia. Gale Virtual Reference Library, 2011. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This electronic source defines Styrofoam and explains the material clearly. The 2011 Environmental Encyclopedia also gives examples of its solid and foam usages, like food product packaging and delicate item protection (Sims). There are additional details surrounding the manufacturing process and history of Styrofoam. Sims ends the definition with the harmful aspects of Styrofoam—its low solubility and hazardous components. This reference might be helpful to use in my introduction to clarify any misunderstandings about the material. Since my audience has been educated about Styrofoam, it might be redundant to include this source. Still, I am keeping this source as an option.]
“Volunteer Efforts Make a Dent in Trash.” Food Service Director. CSP Business Media, LLC., 22 September 2009. Web. 24 March 2016.
[This magazine article highlights Westwood Elementary School’s decision to recycle Styrofoam lunch trays. Located in Stockton, California, the school’s project has shown dramatically positive results (par. 1). The project significantly saved money, decreased the school’s waste quantity by 90%, and reduced the frequency of garbage pickup days (par. 9). This article is inspiring to me and proves that my passion for recycling Styrofoam needs to be an important possibility. Despite the admiration that I have for Westwood Elementary, I am not going to use this source. There was a lot of effort made by the teachers and students of the school—effort that local residents in Southern Nevada presumably would not make. Moreover, this article is targeted towards consumers whereas I am primarily targeting the recycling management at Republic Services. Hence, it would be unfitting to use this source.]